Even though Aang and Sokka had agreed to take turns at Katara's side, Aang found that he spent almost the entirety of the next days in that hospital room somehow. Sokka kept finding things that Zuko or Suki needed his help with, or said he was too tired… Aang would have thought he was up to something if he hadn't been so exhausted with worry himself. As it was, he only left the room for necessary bathroom breaks or when Zuko would drag him away to eat.

Katara remained stable, but asleep. His anxiety increased with every hour that passed without her waking up, though. He wondered if there was some remaining poison in her body, or if he or Kuruk had messed something up somehow, and continued to watch her carefully during the day for any signs of distress.

"She's fine," Dr. Li insisted every time he explained his fears. "Her body just needs time to reset after that. It shouldn't be long, now."

At night he often pushed the chair up right next to her and curled up in it with his head resting next to her arm on the bed and his hand threaded through hers. He had even practiced some rudimentary healing on her, when Dr. Li wasn't looking. Katara had taught him the basics once, when she'd had a small cut from climbing on some sharp rocks and Aang asked to learn. Fluttermoths still danced in his stomach when he remembered the feeling of her soft hands encased in healing waters over his, how his hands had tingled with their combined chi before she pulled her hands away and let him heal her leg.

He tried running healing waters over her stomach, chest, and head periodically, but everything was fuzzy. She had taught him to repair skin in order to heal the small cut, but he didn't know enough about what things were supposed to look like inside the body to be of much use.

Dr. Li was definitely getting annoyed with his constant presence. He could tell by her exasperated sighs whenever he asked another question or how she continued to give him looks when he refused to leave her side during her examinations, only turning around to maintain Katara's modesty when necessary.

He often thought about how it must have been for Katara when he was the one in a coma. She had been the only one on that ship with any healing ability, though surely some of the warriors had some medical knowledge gained by lived experience or passed down through generations. Katara had never wanted to talk about those terrible, frightening weeks, but he wondered now how she had handled bathing or changing him. He realized with a start that she had surely seen all of him years ago and never mentioned anything. Was that to preserve his pride? Was she embarrassed by what she saw? Then again they had both been so young and already so traumatized…

"Hey." Sokka's voice, however quiet and gentle, startled him. "How's she doing?"

Sokka stood by the curtained entryway to her room, looking as though he'd aged several years in the last few days. His face was scruffy and Aang wasn't sure if he'd even changed clothes since the incident. Come to think of it, Aang hadn't, either. He ran his hand along his face and head to find both prickling with multiple days of stubble.

"She's okay," Aang replied. "Stable, but still not waking up. I… I don't know what else to do, Sokka." He felt tears welling up in his eyes and he turned back to Katara. He lifted her hand off the bed and brought it to his lips, releasing a shaky breath. Sokka gripped Aang's shoulder, offering his support and understanding. Aang was grateful for his friend, but it didn't take away the brokenness he felt inside without Katara.

"We think we cracked the case, if it makes you feel better," Sokka said glumly after a moment, pulling another chair over to Katara's bedside and plopping down in it. "Although, I'm not sure it will."

"Who did it, then?" Aang asked. "Was it Yaeko—that new advisor who recommended the noodle shop?"

"Yes… and no," Sokka said. "She was definitely involved, and is in custody in a Fire Nation prison right now while we gather more evidence, but she wasn't in charge."

Aang hung his head, softly resting it against Katara's unmoving hand that he was still holding.

"Actually…"

"Hey! I said one visitor at a time!" Dr. Li pulled back the curtain at the sound of their hushed voices and started shooing at the two men. Aang stood defeatedly.

"You want a turn?" he asked Sokka. "I could probably use a bath and a shave, and you haven't gotten much time with Katara."

"Yeah, why don't you go freshen up before she wakes and smells you," Sokka teased. Aang stuck his tongue out at him, feeling the slightest bit of relief at his friend's humor. "I'll tell you the rest later, or Zuko or Suki can if you run into them."

"OUT!" Dr. Li said again, pushing the Avatar out of the tiny hospital space.

"Thanks, Sokka," Aang called back through the curtain.

Aang took a much longer bath than normal, but he found his joints aching from spending so much time in that chair and the warm water was soothing. He kept reheating it with firebending until his hands and feet were wrinkly, indicating that it was probably time to get out. He had just pulled on his pants and gotten his razor out to shave when there was a loud rap at his door.

"Aang, she's awake! Hurry!" Suki's voice called through the door.

The razor hit the counter with a loud clang and Aang all but flew to the door, grabbing his sash and pulling it over his head on the way. When he opened the door, he found not just Suki, but Ty Lee as well, waiting for him in the hallway and dressed in full Kyoshi Warrior armor, fans and all.

Aang didn't have time to question why he had guards in the Fire Palace. He sprinted down the hall and back to the hospital wing at a speed only an airbender could achieve, ignoring Suki's calls for him to wait for them. Katara was awake and he wasn't there. He could've kicked himself for leaving her side.

He burst back into the room. He was sure he looked disheveled despite his recent bath, but he didn't care what he looked like. All he cared about was Katara, and being there for her right now.

Sokka stood and moved to the curtain, grinning at his friend as he did. Aang realized abruptly that Sokka had been talking to Katara and he probably interrupted their conversation.

"Uh… sorry…" he started, unsure what to do with himself now that he was here. His eyes darted back and forth between his two best friends. Should he hug her? He wanted so badly to kiss her casually on the hair or the hand but—given her reaction when she had kissed him the other night—he didn't think that would go over well. "I can go wait outside… I just…"

"Nah, you spent every minute by her side until an hour ago when I told you to go take a bath," Sokka reasoned with a smirk. "I already told her that she's never allowed to get herself poisoned again. I think Katara would probably prefer your company to mine now, anyway, right sis?"

Aang couldn't read the look Katara was giving her brother at that moment. She almost looked… angry? Her eyes were wide but her brow was knitted together and she was definitely avoiding looking at Aang. He felt his heart sink.

"No, really, it's okay," he said. "I…"

"You can stay," Katara said, finally meeting his eyes. "Please."

They heard the clatter of more feet in the hallway outside the curtain and the sound of Dr. Li's stern voice scolding Suki and Ty Lee. Sokka looked at Aang one last time. Aang nodded, and then Sokka slipped out of the curtain to join them.

Once Sokka left, Katara began focusing on some indiscriminate point on the stone floor. Dr. Li bustled in and began her examination, blessedly interrupting the awkwardness that hung in the air between them.

"We are all so glad to see you awake, Master Katara," she said as she checked her pupils and lymph nodes. "Your brother and the Avatar were especially worried about you."

"Yes, well," Katara cleared her throat. "I'm glad to be awake, too, though I can't say I remember what happened."

Aang opened his mouth to explain when Dr. Li simply said, "You were poisoned." Katara's eyes went wide and she finally, finally looked to Aang for an explanation. He took her hand as Dr. Li continued her examination, reassuring her without words that he would tell her everything soon. When she squeezed his hand in return his entire body warmed with relief. Even if things were a little weird between them right now, she still trusted him.

The doctor asked Katara a myriad of questions regarding her pain levels and discomforts—all of which were thankfully nonexistent or minimal—before finally feeling satisfied that her patient was alright and leaving the two of them alone.

"I like your hair," Katara said shyly. She reached up and ran her fingers through the short stubble on his head and he grinned, feeling his cheeks heat up tremendously.

"So, poison?!" she asked. "Was I the only one? Or…"

"Just you," Aang said quickly. "Although I don't think anyone else had started eating yet other than me. It was such a blur, I…"

"How did I… well… survive?"

"You told me to use the FuZi root in your bag, but I had no idea what I was doing, and then you passed out." Aang took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, but his voice still broke on his next sentence. "Katara, I thought I was going to lose you. I can't lose you. You're my best friend." He thought he saw her face drop when he said "friend," before she smiled sadly up at him. "So I… I went into the Avatar State and channeled Avatar Kuruk. He had some healing training and he emptied your stomach and gave you the FuZi extract and then we brought you back here."

Aang was a little worried he had rambled, or said too much at once, but he knew Katara was a medical expert and she would want to know everything. She nodded mutely, and Aang started caressing the back of her hand with his thumb. He wanted to climb into that bed with her and hold her and tell her everything was going to be okay. He didn't know why he was holding back anymore.

When she had passed out from the poison, he had obviously panicked and gone into the Avatar State, but while Kuruk was possessing his body he had come to the realization that he couldn't keep pretending his feelings for her didn't exist. When Kuruk called Katara "the Avatar's love," he knew it was the absolute truth. And yet he still worried about putting Katara in an awkward position.

"Katara, I…"

"Thank you, Aang," she said quietly. Katara reached out with her other hand and held his cheek. Why did her smile look so sad? He felt an overwhelming urge to lean forward and kiss her, but he knew this wasn't the time or the place.

"You don't have to thank me, Katara," Aang said. "I will always be there when you need me. I know you'd do the same for me. You have, in fact. Multiple times."

Katara chuckled darkly. "I don't like remembering that."

"Yeah, well," Aang leaned into her touch. "Now we're… well, we're not even but we're…"

"Let's hope we don't have to save each other ever again," Katara said with finality. Aang nodded. He understood now—better than he had before, anyway—how terrifying it was to be in that position. He also understood that unfortunately, his position as Avatar came with many risks, and his life was likely going to be threatened again and again. He chewed the inside of his lip. He was still debating whether he should bring that up when Katara spoke again.

"I… I know that you're the Avatar, and that we probably will have to save each other again. Or, at least I'll need to save you. I'm sorry. I know that," she said, twiddling with the thin hospital blanket in her lap. She rolled to her side to face him better. "I'm just a little shaken right now, I guess. I'm not used to being the one that needs saving." Katara's cheeks bloomed scarlet and the sight brought unexpected joy to Aang's heart. He had spent days staring at her uncharacteristically pale face and seeing the color and emotion return brought him to the verge of relieved tears.

"Oh, Katara," he said wetly. He leaned over the bed to embrace her as best he could in their positions. Katara clutched at his back and he could feel her trembling in his arms. It seemed like she was trying to pull him closer, so he hesitantly scooted so that he was sitting beside her in the bed, glancing over his shoulder at the curtained doorway to watch for Dr. Li.

The moment he was fully on the bed Katara practically climbed into his lap, resting her head on his shoulder. He held her while she processed everything that had happened, stroking her back and whispering encouragement and understanding in her ear.

"You are so, so strong, Katara," he murmured, carefully brushing strands of hair out of her face. "You've always been the strongest one out of all of us. But you deserve to be taken care of, too. Let us do that for you."

Katara took a shaky breath and nuzzled closer to him. He could feel her hot breath on his chest becoming slower and more even. At first he worried she was slipping back into a coma.

"Katara? Katara, are you okay?" he asked, shaking her arm gently.

"Mmmmm," she sighed. "Just sleepy. Stay?"

Aang lay back on the bed and let her curl into him, wrapping his arm around her to hold her tight. He knew he would have to sneak out before Dr. Li returned for her next examination, but he couldn't say no to Katara right now. As she dozed, he couldn't help but feel again, for the millionth time since they'd started their charade, that this closeness felt so right. It felt like home. He pressed a kiss into her hair, now that she was asleep, and thanked the Spirits again that she was okay.

When Katara awoke, Aang was back in the chair beside her bed, dozing. She felt a pang of disappointment, but she couldn't hold it against him. He had done so much for her. Judging by the sun in the sky it was somewhere around midday. She went to stretch her arms above her head and found that Aang was still clinging to one of her hands. The sight brought a smile to her face.

When Dr. Li had asked her how she was feeling earlier, she had been truthful that there was no pain or discomfort anywhere. But what she did feel was incredibly sluggish. Her mind and her body felt like they were trying to walk through sludge, uphill and upstream. She wondered if that was a side-effect of the poison, or if it was just from lying in bed for so long.

She squeezed Aang's hand and watched his face stir to life.

"Hi," she said, grinning softly.

"Katara," he said, with all the tenderness in the world. The mere sound of his voice made her feel so cherished and sent a warm, cozy feeling throughout her body. "How are you feeling?"

"I feel great," she said honestly. "Kind of fatigued, but nothing else is bothering me. Maybe I can break out of the hospital room today," she said with a smirk.

"I'm so glad," Aang replied. "That would be amazing. Can I get you something to eat? You must be starving."

"Actually, yeah, I am pretty hungry."

"Hungry, hmmm? That's a good sign," Dr. Li pulled the curtain aside and set her clipboard down on the counter to begin her examination. "Let's see how your legs are after this—maybe the Avatar can walk you down to lunch in the Firelord's dining room. I bet your friends would be excited to see you."

"I'd love that," Katara said excitedly. When Dr. Li finished the physical examination and went through her questions, she had Aang hold one of Katara's elbows gently while she supported the other. Katara flung her legs over the side of the bed and, with their help, stood on shaky legs.

"How does this feel?" the doctor asked her.

"I feel… out of practice," she admitted. "I think I can get it if I keep trying."

They walked together out of the small room and into the wider hallway and waiting space of the hospital wing. After a few slow laps around, Dr. Li had her try with just Aang holding her arm.

"You're doing great, Master Katara," she commended. "I think some lunch is in order. And, with your healer's expertise, you can probably be released from my constant supervision at this time, however I expect you to return at the slightest sign of regression."

"Yes, of course. Thank you so much, Doctor Li." Katara did her best to bow in thanks to the older woman, before turning to Aang with a giddy smile. He returned it warmly.

"Yes, thank you, Doctor Li," he added, bowing deeply. The doctor's eyes crinkled with her returning grin.

"Do not push it, though," she called after them as they moved slowly out of the hospital wing and into the private area of the palace. "I still expect you to be resting. Avatar, make sure she doesn't stress too much!"

"I will," he said solemnly. Katara looked up at him. She knew he would take care of her, just as she had taken care of him, and it gave her a feeling of tranquility and contentment. She was surprised by how much her illness had affected him. She really didn't want to give that closeness up, once she was better.

They took their time walking to the dining room, and by the time they arrived many of their friends had already finished their meals, but they were still there. When they walked in there was a bustle and Sokka and Suki and Ty Lee rushed over to her, whisking her away from Aang and helping her into a seat. Zuko called for a waiter to bring more food and drink out for them.

Katara looked longingly at Aang from the crowd as he stood just behind them. Sokka must have noticed, because suddenly he was standing by Aang and telling him to have a seat and pulling out the chair beside Katara. She smiled at her brother in thanks. As happy as she was to be with her friends again, it felt slightly overwhelming all of a sudden. The noise and the questions and the attention… She needed Aang to steady her.

He must have read her mind because seconds later his hand was on hers under the table. It was such a familiar action that it immediately calmed her. She squeezed his hand in thanks. When he squeezed back she took a deep, steadying breath, finally ready to face the loving commotion in front of her, when someone appeared at the door.

"Kyoko," Mai called to Zuko's assistant who had just come to take him to his next meeting. "Please postpone the Firelord's afternoon meeting by one hour. We have some personal business to attend to."

"Yes, of course my lady," she said, bowing and then disappearing behind the door again.

"Thank you, Mai," Zuko said, smiling softly at his fiancee. He then turned his attention across the table, glancing between Aang and Katara with concern. "It's good to see you up and about, Katara. How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling pretty well, considering," Katara said. She took a sip of the hot miso soup that had just been brought out, letting it fill her with warmth. "I'm still tired, and my body feels slow, but I'm glad they let me out of the hospital wing."

"Did Sokka tell you what happened?" Zuko asked. Katara saw Aang shoot Zuko a glare, but the Firelord seemed oblivious.

"Aang filled me in a little," she responded, "but just with what happened at the restaurant."

"I'm so glad you brought your medical bag, Katara," Aang said, turning to her with eyes full of relief and care. Katara felt her cheeks heating up and took another sip of her soup to try and hide her blush.

"Yeah, no kidding. None of us might be here—well, except for you, Aang—if she hadn't," Sokka said, snagging another mochi off the plate.

"Wait, what?!" Aang exclaimed. His eyes seemed to bulge for a moment before he closed them and pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head. "Hold on, we're not supposed to be stressing Katara out. The doctor said…"

"It's okay, Aang," Katara said quietly. "I want to know. I'll be okay." She squeezed his hand again under the table and watched his face soften in response. Then, she looked back at her brother. Mai quietly got up and locked all the doors, ensuring their privacy.

"Okay, so," he started, after quickly chewing and swallowing his mochi. "Aang, you were right that my noodles were also poisoned, but so were Suki's and Zuko's. Dr. Li found traces of the poison in every bowl of noodles except for yours."

"But… why? Usually it's the other way around," Aang asked, confused.

"I know, that's what was so weird," Sokka agreed. He took a sip of his tea.

"The Kyoshi Warriors did some digging, and you know the organized crime rings we were talking about at lunch that day?" Suki asked. Katara looked at Aang, who seemed as lost as she was. Neither of them had been paying much attention to that conversation before lunch, as they had been much more focused on the awkwardness between them after Katara kissed him in front of their friends.

"Uh… sure?" he said. Katara grinned knowingly into her soup bowl.

"Well, a lot of them are Ozai sympathizers, who obviously dislike both the Firelord and the Avatar, but there is a small faction that still wants to keep the Avatar alive," Suki explained. "They actually… kind of worship you, Aang. This smaller group is almost exclusively women, and we found a significant overlap between them and the Avatar Aang fan clubs in the Fire Nation. I don't think that's a coincidence. We can't trace anything back to Ba Sing Se yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if whoever threatened Katara there was also a part of this group, although they could just be a crazy fangirl."

"And Yaeko…" Aang started, trying to put the pieces together.

"Yaeko was part of the group," Zuko interjected darkly. "She was sent to apply for the position of advisor when it opened up, giving them an "in" at the palace. They waited for the right moment to strike, when all of us were here and together but out of the palace, so it wouldn't seem like an inside job. She suggested the restaurant. All the workers and customers that day were members of this group, and they did the rest."

"Wow…" Katara said, sinking back into her chair. She couldn't help but feel relieved that she hadn't been exclusively targeted, but still it was unnerving that there were people out there that didn't just dislike her and her friends; they wanted them dead.

"We are in the process of placing all known members of the group in custody," Mai said dryly, inspecting her fingernails. "But it's been… difficult to track them all down. Like when Azula formed the Kemurikage and afterwards they all just… disappeared."

The room remained silent, the weight of the situation choking out any possible words from forming.

"I suggest we all remain in the palace for a little while longer," Zuko said. "No more trips out into the caldera, and keep to the private wing as much as possible. The only issue will be with the trade conference next week, but I'm making arrangements for extra security."

"I think it's best if we stay here a little longer for Katara's healing, anyway," Aang said. Katara smiled at him, touched by how much he was thinking of her. He grinned back at her and the air in the room seemed to change again.

"Then it's settled," Sokka said, clearing his throat. Katara noticed Aang look away from her and back into his soup bowl, blushing. "We'll all stay put—at least through next week's conference—and then re-evaluate the situation."

Katara didn't know what the future held, but she knew how she'd felt when Aang held her and caressed her when she'd first woken up. She felt safe with him by her side. She knew she still needed to apologize for kissing him in front of their friends, but she hoped he would always be there, at least as her best friend. She didn't want to admit it, but she needed him. She had a feeling he needed her, too, even if it wasn't the same.

Author's Note: We are nearing the end of this story! Chapter 10 will be posted in two weeks, and then the last chapter should be posted the week after that. Let me know your thoughts in the comments. I want to endlessly thank CoyoteLemon, who has way too much going on IRL right now and still took the time to read through this chapter and offer her thoughts. I also want to shout out chocomd for talking me through the expositional dialogue at the end when I was feeling unsure about it. Fandom friends are amazing, y'all.